Economic Sanctions, Medication Shortages and Access to Medicine: The Case Study of Iran

A history of unilateral/multilateral economic sanctions enacted by the U.S. and Europe against Iran has had a negative impact on public health, medicines access and drug shortages in the country.  Specifically, U.S. sanctions, following the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis, now comprise a wide-ranging regime covering several sectors of the Iranian economy also impacted by the nuclear impasse between Iran and the West. Although sanctions are aimed at the Iranian government, and not exports of humanitarian goods/pharmaceuticals, they have nevertheless led to critical drug shortages. Many companies ceased doing business with Iranian companies, fearing sanction violations/punitive measures leading to record inflation and a drop in value of Iranian currency. As a result, Iran has been forced to import low-quality medicines/raw chemical materials from China and India. These substitution drugs lack quality and present unknown risks. In an effort to ease drug shortages, in 2012, Office of Foreign Assets Control published new provisions amending the Iranian Transactions Regulations allowing exports of certain medicines under a simplified process. Despite these revisions, Iran continues to face numerous importation challenges due to remaining restrictions on financial transactions.  In response, we call for U.S./European policymakers to recognize the humanitarian right to healthcare access and medicines. This includes authorizing financial institutions to participate in the transfer of funds committed solely to the supply of humanitarian goods to Iran. A dedicated bank SWIFT line, designation of authorized Iranian and foreign banks, and exemptions for use of crude oil revenues for medicines procurement should also be explored.